THE MORGANTOWN PARKING AUTHORITY

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Regular Meeting

 

The regular meeting of the Morgantown Parking Authority was held at 3:00 P.M., Wednesday, October 12, 2005, in the Conference Room at the Public Safety Building.

 

PRESENT:  Chairman Ernest Fortuna, Charlie McEwuen, George Papandreas and Tom Arnold.

 

ABSENT:  Vice-Chairman Bill Byrne and Ron Bane.

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Journalism 215:  Jamie Ziegler, Lisa Furby, Emily Hurdzah and Lauren Clark

 

            The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ernest Fortuna at 3:05 P.M.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

 

Upon a motion by Mr. Papandreas seconded by Mr. McEwuen and approved by unanimous vote, the minutes of the regular meeting of September 21, 2005 were approved as presented.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

 

University Avenue Garage Stair Replacement:

 

Bids for the “University Avenue Garage Stair Replacement” was opened on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 with only one bid being received.  Commercial Builder’s bid was for $72,000 for the stairwell repair and $30,000 for the removal of the wall to the elevator lobby.  Their bid was $97,000 for both items being done at the same time for a saving of $5,000.  Mr. Arnold said the bids probably would have been lower last year but since Hurricane Katrina fuel costs have increased.  He said it is very important to do this work now and it shouldn’t be delayed.

 

Mr. Fortuna said since there was only one bid for this project he would like to put the bid out again to see if there would be more bids received.  He asked about the condition of the stairs and whether or not the project could be delayed.  Mr. Arnold said the work should to be done while the weather permits.  He thought March Weston was going to put in a bid but they didn’t.  The stairs are in bad shape and to re-bid this project would need advertised and would take at least thirty days to complete the bidding process and approximately sixty-days to complete the project. 

 

Mr. Papandreas asked if this project could be postponed until spring.  Mr. Arnold said it shouldn’t be postponed because the nosings on the stairs are very hazardous and since the funds are available he would like to do it now.  Mr. Papandreas said that if the stairs are a liability issue then the work should be done now.

 

After a brief discussion it was moved by Mr. Papandreas, seconded by Mr. McEwuen and approved by unanimous vote to accept the bid of Commercial Builders in the amount of $97,000 for the “Stairwell Repair and Elevator Lobby Wall Modification

 

 

 

MPA Logo Change:

 

            Mr. Arnold said he briefly spoke with Ms. Terry Cutright of Main Street Morgantown about the Morgantown Parking logo change.  They discussed the possibility of having a PR campaign for a Parking Authority logo and name change contest.  Mr. McEwuen suggested contacting WVU and have the students participate.  The prize for the best logo could be a four-month or one year parking pass. 

 

After a brief discussion it was moved by Mr. McEwuen, seconded by Mr. Papandreas and approved by unanimous vote to run a campaign for the Parking Authority logo and name change.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

300 Block High Street Parking Program:

 

            Mr. Arnold said there are approximately thirteen people representing the 300 block of High Street.  They discussed several issues such as the Street Scape program and downtown employees parking on High Street.  Slight Indulgence has requested changing four meters in front of their store to 30-minute customer only parking zone.  Mr. Arnold has met with the Parking Enforcement officers and they have issues with enforcing the 30-minute parking spaces.

 

Mr. McEwuen said the Authority can’t differentiate between student and customer parking, but can differentiate between customer and employee parking.  Mr. Arnold said there is also a residential and employee parking problem on the 400 block of High Street.  He said the PR for the “Customer Friendly Zone” could be a nightmare but the Authority is just trying to open up spaces for customers.  Mr. McEwuen said most of the customers to the downtown don’t know about the problem with employee and business owner parking on High Street.  He doesn’t think the public will be against designating the spaces to customers only.

 

Mr. Arnold said the “Customer Friendly Zone” would be on High Street from Pleasant to Willey Street.  This request is coming from the business community therefore Main Street Morgantown will be in charge of bringing the issue before City Council.  He would like to see the fines in “Customer Friendly Zones” higher then regular fines if approved by Council.

 

Mr. McEwuen said the Parking Authority would be loosing parking spaces once the Street Scape is underway.  He would like to meter the right hand side of High Street.  Mr. Arnold said that DP Dough has relocated to the opposite side of High Street and will be opened during the day as well as during the night.  They will be leasing three parking spaces in Lot A for their delivery drivers.  Mr. Papandreas said Lot F is not that much of an inconvenience for the delivery drivers to park and would like to get Pita Pit delivery drivers off of High Street also.  There are at least 2-3 vehicles parked in front of Pita Pit at any given time.  He would like to paint the curb in front of Pita Pit and to get rid of the parking arrangement made with the restaurant. 

 

Permit Parking on Yoke Street:

 

            The City Manager has asked the Parking Authority to consider establishing a permit parking area on City owned property on Yoke Street (in the Loop).  The Parking Authority will be in charge of this lot and the enforcement officers will monitor it for violators.  Mr. Arnold said this parking area has 11-15 parking spaces and is close to where the Augusta was going to be.  Mr. Fortuna said he is in favor of this as long as the enforcement officers are able to enforce it and tow vehicles without permits.

            After a brief discussion it was a unanimous vote to approve the permit parking for the 11-15 parking spaces located in the City’s property on Yoke Street. 

 

OTHER MATTERS:

 

Customer Parking Handbook:

 

            Mr. McEwuen would like a “quick call” sheet that would be used to report burned out streetlights and broken fire hydrants.  He would also like a parking handbook for the merchants that would inform their customers of any parking issues.

 

Garbage Corrals Downtown:

 

            Mr. Papandreas said there is a garbage issue downtown that needs to be addressed.  There isn’t enough room downtown for additional garbage corrals.  He thinks there should be one garbage corral per block allowing tenants and merchants to have a place to put their garbage.  Mr. Arnold said the City is building two corrals to house the garbage in Lots E & B.  He said an ordinance is needed making the property owners responsible for garbage.  If there are three or more people in the building or if it is a commercial building then they should be required to designate a space in the building for garbage.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

            The Parking Authority upon a motion by Mr. Papandreas, seconded by Mr. McEwuen and approved by unanimous vote went into Executive Session at 4:35 P.M., pursuant to 6-9A-4 of the Open Government Proceedings Act specifically subsection 9 to consider matters involving the purchase, sale, or lease of property, the investment of Public Funds or other matters involving commercial competition, which if made public might adversely affect the financial or other interest of the City or this Parking Authority.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________              ______________________________

                           DATE                                                  Ernest Fortuna, Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:  _____________________________________

                                      Dianna L. Kovalcheck